Living in Hawaii is something many visitors have thought about for years. And if you need another reason for a Hawaii vacation, here we go.
United Health Foundation annual results have ranked Hawaii among the healthiest states for the past 28 years. Opportunities for an active lifestyle and an overall strong medical system are among the reasons given in the study.
Vacationing in Hawaii also benefits the health of visitors.
A Hawaiian vacation may be healthier than any of us thought. Although you may not find the Fountain of Youth in Hawaii, you will be headed in the right direction. That’s according to a World Commission on Aging travel study published just before Covid.
▷ More of us are choosing to travel for health.
▷ Those who travel are healthier and even live longer than those who do not travel.
▷ Women who do not travel often have a higher risk of heart disease than those who travel frequently.
▷ Men who travel fare better than their counterparts who do not travel.
▷ People who travel reported being happier in their lives than those who don’t.
Nine Secrets to a Healthy Hawaiian Vacation.
1. Off-season travel. Fewer visitors improve the experience, making it more relaxing. Also, the beaches are not so crowded. The best dates are from now until early December and after spring break until early June.
2. Enjoy the Great Walk of Hawaii. From places such as the Ala Wai Canal in Honolulu, the 8-mile-long Kauai Beachfront Path to the Wailea Beach Boardwalk in Maui. Does it get any better than that?
3. Enter the water, on the water or near the water. From an outrigger canoe ride, swimming, snorkeling, surfing and frolicking. These are great ways to burn calories and get in shape while on vacation in Hawaii. And just being near water is good for your health, too. Negative ions are found in very high concentrations near the ocean. These are said to pass through skin cells and via our lungs.
4. Hike in Hawaii. Epic rides of all intensities await. The options are nearly limitless, from Diamond Head to Koko Head on Oahu to the Alakai Swamp, the Na Pali Coast, and many other great Kauai hikes. Also Pololu Valley, Waipio Valley and Mauna Loa on the Big Island. Maui offers a wide variety of options, including Iao Valley State Park, the Pipiwai Trail, and Waimoku Falls in Haleakala National Park.
5. come prepared. It’s never great to start an intense exercise program on vacation. We have seen the results, but it is not good. Start before you go and make it a fun part of the trip planning process that we find almost as enjoyable as the trip itself. Don’t ruin your vacation in Hawaii or worse. Prepare yourself and stay out of trouble.
6. Eat well. There are more and more healthy options in Hawaii.
seven. Avoid dehydration. Our trade winds and refreshing ocean temperature make you feel like you don’t need a lot of water. The truth is you do.
8. Epic sunsets and sunrises in Hawaii. Other health benefits stem from Hawaii’s natural beauty.
9. Come back happier and healthier than you left.
Living in Hawaii | The Good and the Bad in terms of health.
Hawaii’s health highlights include:
- Low incidence of multiple chronic diseases
- A low percentage of avoidance of medical care due to cost
- Lower obesity rate
- Fewer smokers
- The low rate of uninsured
- Lack of poor children
- Less disparity in health status
- Fewer preventable hospitalizations
- Good funding for public health
- Fewer cancer deaths
- Fewer violent crimes
- Quality dentistry
Our challenges are:
- Generalized lack of adequate sleep
- Alcohol abuse
- The low percentage of high school graduates
- High rate of low birth weight
- High rate of salmonella cases
- Low vaccination rate
You can read the health ratings for Hawaii.
Why Hawaii has the longest life expectancy in the United States
It’s no exaggeration to think that what benefits Hawaii visitors on vacation benefits Hawaii residents year-round throughout their lives. With relatively clean air and water, a lack of population density, a pleasant year-round climate and generally less stress, among other things, we agree with these conclusions.
And so, while every state has seen some decline in this area during Covid, Hawaii has had the least. In the United States, life expectancy fell by 1.8 years to 77 years. In contrast, Hawaii saw a slight drop in life expectancy of 0.2 to 80.7 years, the highest life expectancy in the country.
These states followed Hawaii in first place: WA, MN, CA and MA. Mississippi was the lowest, at 71.9. And in every state, women are living longer.
Read the study below and share your thoughts.
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